The hardest part about cystic fibrosis isn’t the dozen or so surgeries Stacy Motenko had to endure before her 18th birthday.

It’s not the mucus that builds up in her lungs that makes her feel like she’s suffocating, or the 40 or so pills she has to take, or the IVs and needles she has pricking her skin.

The hardest part is losing her loved ones.

In an emotional speech at the Pipeline to a Cure gala last weekend, Motenko, 24, recalled dreams her best friend Emily Haager and she had of one day sitting on a beach in Fiji to celebrate finding a cure for the disease both shared.

“And when that day comes, if I’m still here, you can be sure I will be on the beach in Fiji, and I promise, you will be there in my heart,” she said choking back tears, as if speaking directly to Emily.

Haager – a Diamond Bar resident who was the face of Pipeline to a Cure – died at 27 from complications from the disease earlier this year, a common story for those battling the disease.

People diagnosed with cystic fibrosis – a degenerative disease that causes mucus build up in lungs and makes it difficult to take a breath – have an average life span of 37.

The third annual event – which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – raised about $450,000. The fund-raiser at the Hyatt in Huntington Beach last weekend brought in a room full of influential surfers such as Rob Machado, P.T. Townend, Lisa Anderson, Tom Curren and Dave Kalama many in town for the U.S. Open of Surfing. Billabong, Quiksilver, Volcom, and O’Neill all supported the event.

Check out a slideshow of the event here.

Surfers have come together for the cause because research has shown that salt water helps clear out the lungs for people with cystic fibrosis, helping to break up the solid mucus in their lungs so they can breath easier. Many surf clinics are held along the coast, with cystic fibrosis surfers smiling after the salty air helps ease their suffering.

Other stars such as Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Olympian Jason Lezak and former Angels player Tim Salmon, who was honored at the event, also showed.

Salmon said he didn’t know much about cystic fibrosis when he joined a friend to attend his first event three years ago, assuming it was going to be fun with food and music. But after hearing Haager’s story, he was so inspired that he kept supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Haager asked if he would accept the honors, and in her passing, the award had so much more meaning.

Re: The Great Mood Thread

I finished a ridiculous amount of work these past two weeks. I'm going to spend the day listening to new music, and then leave the studio early to get ready to fly to Seattle for weekend. I'm in a brilliant mood.

Re: The Great Mood Thread

Originally Posted by locachica73

Now I kinda want to go on a scavenger hunt in your house.

I joke and say I have anything I need somewhere in my house and that is close to the truth sometimes. Right now my biggest "just sitting there" thing is an HD camcorder I paid 1500 for and I have used it LESS then 5 minutes. I was going to take it this summer to all the fests and take movies. Sometimes I feel like a looser, but that doesn't belong in this thread. Anyone have any good tri tip recipes??

Re: The Great Mood Thread

Originally Posted by I.F.A.

Yay free money!

I'll purposefully leave $$ in coat pockets or drawers (like $5 or $10) to forget about and find again later (somehow, I always manage to come across it again when I really need it).
(Though I'm slightly baffled that you managed to forget about $200...)

I had this happen a few weeks ago. Grabbed a pair of shorts, put them on, and when I went to tuck the pockets in I discovered $150! Remember, I'm unemployed and money isn't exactly falling from trees, so I'm rather baffled myself...Happily baffled.

"Who is this doing this synthetic type of Alpha Beta psychedelic funkin'?"CHEMICAL BROTHERS

Re: The Great Mood Thread

Finally after 6 phone calls and having to use my angry voice I have been informed that I will receive the back pay from unemployment that has been owed to me since May. This means I will have enough money to pay my sister what I owe her for helping me stay afloat for that month, I can get my tags on my car which are about to expire and maybe even go buy myself something pretty. It should be there tomorrow which means I will have plenty of cushion for my trip to Flagsaff for MELT. I am so very excited.

Re: The Great Mood Thread

Awesome, Audra.

I just had a long "your stuff my stuff" conversation with my ex. Before, I probably would have posted this in the Bad Mood thread, but I'm just excited things are happening. 30 days or less and I will be in my new home.